GRAMMAR help?
Feb 16
choose the correct word in the parenthesis.
1. One of the antique desks had lost (its, their) drawer
2. Both the Lighting Source and Bill Clark’s Insurance have (its, their) offices in this building.
3. Many of the class of 1987 drove to the reunion in (his or her, their) cars.
ANTECEDENTS:
4. The fireworks are so exciting that you feel happy just thinking about them.
A. unclear or confusing
B. clear
C. missing
1) it’s (singular…it’s only one of the antique desks)
2) their (plural…the beginning of the sentence is Both)
3) their (since it doesn’t say boys or girls…his/her)
4) B
Filed under: Antique Car Insurance
1. its
2. their
3. their
4. A
References :
1, its, singular desk
2. their, two subjects make it plural
3. ???? good question, I think it is their
References :
its because it is one desk
their because there is more than one
their becasue there is more than one
number four i am unsure of but i think it would be you and them
References :
1) it’s (singular…it’s only one of the antique desks)
2) their (plural…the beginning of the sentence is Both)
3) their (since it doesn’t say boys or girls…his/her)
4) B
References :
1.It’s - One of the antique desks had lost its drawer
it’s describing how only 1 desk had lost it’s drawer
2. their - Both the Lighting Source and Bill Clark’s Insurance have their offices in this building.
because its describing 2 different things
3. their - Many of the class of 1987 drove to the reunion in their cars.
their, again, because its many
the sentence should probably be many MEMBERS of the class of 1987, though
ANTECEDENTS:
4. The fireworks are so exciting that you feel happy just thinking about them.
A. unclear or confusing
B. clear
C. missing
B, clear, i think….
References :
1. its
2.their
3.their
4. A
References :
1. Its: Cross out prepositonal phrase(of the antique desks). "One" is singular and so is "its"
2. Their: "Both" is plural, so is "their"
3. Their: Cross out prepositional phrase(of the class of 1987). "Many" is plural and so is "their"
4. B: Because the antecedent is "the fireworks" and the pronoun is "them"
References :
English Class
There are actually some fairly simple rules to solve this sort of problem. If you know them, it’s as easy as shooting fish in a barrel.
Rule 1: Don’t go by spoken English. What we say and what the rules are sometimes differ. Go by the rules.
Rule 2: All the words that end in -one and -body are singular. This includes words like someone and nobody. It also includes the actual word "one" and each.
Singlular words mingle with other singles. (Not marrieds–plurals) So singles mingle with: he she it–him her it–and his her its. Notice the word for ownership is its and not it’s which means it is.
Both, "and" they we–are plurals. These words should not mingle with the singles cause it is against the law of grammar! They goes with them and their while we goes with us and our. Just remember, singles don’t hang out with plurals! Also some may and few are plural. Think about it.
Rule 3: Some words are locked up in prepositional phrases.
They never go out and mingle with anyone because they are locked up!
Your problem:
1. One (of the antique desks)[prepositional phrase--the words in it are locked up so "one " is the real subject] had lost (its, their) [Ok: ask yourself if one is single or plural to decide who it can mingle with] drawer. Look at the rules.
2. Both [Is this single or plural so who will it hang out with?] the Lighting Source and [Both hangs out with and sometimes which is cool because they are both single or plural?] Bill Clark’s Insurance have (its, their) [So which word can legally mingle with both...and?] offices in this building.
3. Many [single or plural?] (of the class of 1987)[prep phrase] drove to the reunion in (his or her, their) [Pick the one that goes with Many] cars.
Just giving you the answer wouldn’t be homework help. I have tried to show you how to think through it.
4. The fireworks are so exciting that you feel happy just thinking about them [What word does them replace--mingle with? Is that word single or plural? Is them single or plural? If you mix singles and plurals, you get unclear or confusing].
A. unclear or confusing
B. clear
C. missing
The worst mistake is in this sentence:
Is everybody going to their locker? Can you now tell what is wrong with it? The answer is that it breaks all three rules.
Good luck.
References :